Care New England Introduces Carolyn Jackson as New President and COO of Kent Hospital

Warwick, RI — (January 6, 2026) — Care New England Health System is pleased to announce the appointment of Carolyn Jackson as President and Chief Operating Officer (COO) of Kent Hospital, effective February 2, 2026. Jackson brings more than two decades of senior healthcare leadership experience, with a strong record of operational excellence, financial turnaround, and quality improvement across complex hospital systems. She will be joining Kent Hospital from Encompass Health Rehabilitation Hospital of Braintree, where she currently serves as Chief Executive Officer. Prior to that role, Jackson spent 6 years as Chief Executive Officer of Tenet Healthcare’s Massachusetts Market and Saint Vincent Hospital in Worcester, and she served as Chief Operating Officer of the Hospital of the University of Pennsylvania in Philadelphia.

“Kent Hospital is a cornerstone community hospital, and an integral part of Care New England’s system of hospitals, services, and providers dedicated to delivering foundational care to our community,” said Dr. Michael Wagner, President and CEO of Care New England. “Carolyn’s proven leadership and commitment to quality, and her ability to strengthen organizations clinically and operationally make her exceptionally well-suited to lead Kent Hospital and advance our mission of coordinated, patient-centered care.”

During her tenure at Saint Vincent Hospital, Jackson led a dramatic $89 million financial turnaround just 3 years. Under her leadership, the hospital earned national recognition for clinical excellence, including Healthgrades’ designation as one of America’s 100 Best Hospitals for Coronary Intervention for two consecutive years. She also spearheaded innovative COVID-19 response efforts, including the establishment of a high-efficiency vaccination clinic that administered more than 85,000 vaccines, while maintaining low employee infection rates through rigorous safety protocols.

Jackson has also demonstrated a strong commitment to expanding access to care, leading the operationalization of eight new behavioral health beds to address critical community needs and securing $2.5 million in funding to operationalize another 17 behavioral health beds.  

As President of Kent Hospital, Jackson will focus on advancing quality and safety, strengthening financial performance, fostering workforce engagement, and ensuring Kent Hospital continues to meet the evolving healthcare needs of the community it serves.

“I am honored to join Care New England and the exceptional team at Kent Hospital,” Jackson said. “I look forward to working collaboratively with physicians, staff, and community partners to build on Kent’s strong foundation, deliver high-quality, compassionate care, and advance Care New England’s mission to ensure Rhode Islanders have easy, coordinated access to the clinical programs and services that support well-being at every stage of life.”

About Care New England
Care New England Health System is a trusted organization that fuels the latest advances in medical research, attracts the nation’s top specialty-trained doctors, hones renowned services and innovative programs, and engages in the important discussions people need to have about their health and end-of-life wishes. Care New England is helping to transform the future of health care, providing a leading voice in the ongoing effort to ensure the health of the individuals and communities we serve.
CNE was founded in 1996, and today it is the parent organization of Butler Hospital, Kent Hospital, Women & Infants Hospital of Rhode Island, Care New England Medical Group, the VNA of Care New England, The Providence Center, and Integra, a certified accountable care organization (ACO). Care New England includes 749 licensed beds and 102 infant bassinets. Through Butler, Kent, and Women & Infants hospitals, Care New England has a teaching and research affiliation with The Warren Alpert Medical School of Brown University. Kent is also a teaching affiliate of The University of New England College of Osteopathic Medicine. 

About Kent Hospital
Kent Hospital, a Care New England facility, is a 359-bed, acute care hospital. It ranks as Rhode Island’s second-largest hospital, serving around 300,000 residents in central Rhode Island. As a teaching affiliate of The Warren Alpert Medical School of Brown University and The University of New England College of Osteopathic Medicine, Kent provides training programs in emergency medicine, family medicine, internal medicine, podiatry, diabetology, and gastroenterology. Its Emergency Department (ED), classified as a high-volume ED by CMS, handles roughly 55,000 patients annually and is one of four hospitals in Rhode Island offering emergency angioplasty for heart attacks. Additionally, it has been recognized as a verified geriatric surgery facility by the American College of Surgeons Geriatric Surgery Verification (GSV) program—the first hospital in New England and the 25th nationwide to earn this distinction. Kent Hospital also maintains a longstanding clinical partnership with Boston’s Brigham and Women’s Hospital, providing excellent local care for conditions like cardiology, pulmonary issues, thoracic surgery, colorectal surgery, and other specialties. The hospital is dedicated to becoming age-friendly to deliver top-quality care for older adults. Its Silver-Level 2 Geriatric ED Accreditation, Geriatric Surgery Comprehensive Excellence Verification, and Acute Care for Elders (ACE) unit exemplify Kent’s commitment to Healthy Aging and managing issues affecting the health and well-being of the aging community.

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